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COVID-19 test offered to patients without all symptoms on case-by-case basis

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Updated: 9:11 PM CDT Apr 7, 2020

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CAN POSSIBLY BE TESTED - WITHOUT SHOWING CERTAIN SYMPTOMS. (áááPKGááá) (PKG <I JUST FELT WEIRD AND I WAS GETTING THE CHILLS.> YOU SEE HER ENERGY AND SPUNK ON KCCI THIS MORNING - BUT LAST WEEK LAUREN DONOVAN - SAYS SHE STARTED FEELING NOT LIKE HERSELF. <MY THROATS HURTING. I HAVE A HEADACHE.> WORRIED IT COULD BE COVID-19 - SHE CALLED 211. BUT BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A FEVER OF 100-POINT-3 OR HIGHER THEY SAID TESTING WASN'T NECESSARY. AS A PRECAUTION, LAUREN HAS BEEN SELF ISOLATING AND WORKING OUT OF HER DES MOINES APARTMENT. BUT TUESDAY - SHE STARTED TO FEEL WORSE. <I BEGAN TO SHOW SHORTNESS OF BREATHE...> THAT'S WHY LAUREN CAME HERE - TO THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE RESPIRATORY CLINIC ON SE 14TH IN DES MOINES. IT DOESN'T REQUIRE AN APPOINTMENT OR REFERRAL FROM A DOCTOR. (NATS OF HER VIDEO GETTING TESTED) LAUREN EXPLAINED HER SYMPTOMS - AND PHC AGREED TO TEST HER. <I WAS SURPRISED. I WAS LIKE I HAVE NOT HAD A FEVER AND SHE WAS LIKE THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.> PRIMARY HEALTH CARE RESPIRATORY CLINIC TELLS KCCI IT FOLLOWS ALL CDC AND STATE GUIDELINES FOR COVID-19 TESTING. BUT EVALUATES TESTING ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. (NATS OF LAUREN GETTING TESTED) EVEN THOUGH LAUREN DIDN'T HAVE AN ACTIVE FEVER, PHC SAYS HAVING ENOUGH OTHER SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF A PREVIOUS FEVER - LIKE CHILLS - CAN QUALIFY YOU FOR TESTING. (STREET NAT) BUT PHC DOESN'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THEY CAN DRIVE UP AND BE GUARANTEED A CORONAVIRUS TEST. IN A STATEMENT THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER SAID "LESS THAN 25% OF PATIENTS THAT COME THROUGH IN A DAY ARE RECEIVING COVID-19 TESTS." WHILE NOT EVERYONE REQUIRES TESTING, LAUREN'S SAYS SHE'D GLAD SHE KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON HER HEALTH. <YOU JUST HAVE T

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COVID-19 test offered to patients without all symptoms on case-by-case basis

A Des Moines medical clinic now offers drive-up testing for COVID-19 without an appointment, and some people may get tested for the virus without exhibiting certain symptoms.KCCI’s Lauren Donovan visited the Primary Health Care Respiratory Clinic at 2353 Southeast 14th Street on Tuesday after experiencing some symptoms of COVID-19.“My throat's hurting. I have a headache,” Donovan said. “I just felt weird and I was getting the chills.”Donovan said she called 211 last week after experiencing some COVID-19 symptoms but was told testing was not necessary because she did not have a fever of 100.3 degrees or higher.As a precaution, Donovan began self-isolating and working out of her Des Moines apartment. She said she chose to visit the Primary Health Care Respiratory Clinic after her symptoms worsened.“I began to show shortness of breath,” she said.After Donovan explained her symptoms to the staff at the Primary Health Care Respiratory Clinic, she received a test for the flu.When the test came back negative, she received a COVID-19 test.“I was surprised,” she said. “I was like, ‘I have not had a fever,’ and she was like, ‘That is not going to be an issue.’”Primary Health Care Respiratory Clinic tells KCCI it follows all CDC and state guidelines for COVID-19 testing but evaluates testing on a case-by-case basis. Even though Donovan did not have an active fever, PHC said having enough symptoms and signs of a previous fever, like chills, can qualify people for testing.PHC does not want anyone to think they can drive up and be guaranteed a COVID-19 test.The community health center said in a statement, "Less than 25% of patients that come through in a day are receiving COVID-19 tests." While not everyone requires testing, Donovan said she is glad she kept a close eye on her health.“You just have to be extra vigilant right now,” Donovan said. “It's not worth it.”Donovan will have to wait at least 3 days for the COVID-19 test results.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

A Des Moines medical clinic now offers drive-up testing for COVID-19 without an appointment, and some people may get tested for the virus without exhibiting certain symptoms.